I can't find an article... but on Sportscenter they just said the NFL has agreed to a new rule this year. Quarterbacks will now be allowed to scuff up game balls prior to using them, to get a better grip.... won't be quite as slick that way. I don't know if Peyton Manning was the one pushing for it or what, but they showed video of him behind it saying he thinks it'll help him play better. I might have misunderstood that, he was the only person they showed video of though during the segment.

The use of new, frequently slick footballs on game day often resulted in some tenuous ballhandling and short-hopped incompletions among even the game's best. Manning and Brady organized a petition signed by about 20 quarterbacks that would allow a road team to bring its own footballs, prepared to its quarterback's liking. The committee approved the petition, and the change will go into effect for 2006.

"It took Peyton Manning and a bunch of guys getting together to say, 'Look, this is enough. We just can't do this,' " 49ers coach Mike Nolan says. "I know Alex took some criticism last year about dropping the balls. But believe me, the rest of the quarterbacks had the same issue, and they're all tired of dealing with it because it's the only sport that doesn't rub down the balls.

"You talk about quarterback play being important, why tie his hands with the way they have the ball?"

Ball conditions aside, Smith looks to improve this year. Nolan said his quarterback appears much more poised and in command after suffering his growing pains in seven starts last season.

The only problem I have with this is that it wasn't that long ago that they implemented the "new ball" rule to keep kickers from basically doing the exact same thing.

I find it highly hypocritical to ban kickers from doing it, and then turn around and explicitly allow QBs to do it just a few years later.

Other than that, I think it's OK that they are allowing this. Anyone that's ever handled a football straight from the box knows they suck. I'd just as soon eliminate bad plays caused by slick new footballs.

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Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear.
The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.

Sure Peyton that's why you can't win the big one. Slick balls. Or maybe it's just that yours are microscopic in size.

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“We want players who are big, strong, smart, fast, tough and disciplined,” Pioli said, finally bringing an end to the era of Chiefs executives who searched desperately for players who are small, weak, stupid, slow, fragile and unruly.

So appearantly theyre doing something that is preventing the opposing QB from the ball slipping from their fingers?!?!?! Well tough ****ing shit!!! Throw it accurately and throw it with good mechanics like youve been taught all your life. This is ****in bullshit. This is on the same level of putting super grip on the gloves so the WRs wont drop balls because it is too slippery.

The only problem I have with this is that it wasn't that long ago that they implemented the "new ball" rule to keep kickers from basically doing the exact same thing.

I find it highly hypocritical to ban kickers from doing it, and then turn around and explicitly allow QBs to do it just a few years later.

Other than that, I think it's OK that they are allowing this. Anyone that's ever handled a football straight from the box knows they suck. I'd just as soon eliminate bad plays caused by slick new footballs.

I don't have a problem with the rule change, in and of itself.

I just have a problem with the rule cause it's just another in a series of rules changes to give the offense every possible advantage.